One would have hoped that with St. Martin/St. Maarten Day fast approaching, the flag on Cole Bay Hill would have been restored by now. Everyone knows that the project planned before but executed soon after the catastrophic passage of record-strength Hurricane Irma in September 2017 was controversial, but it still became a reality.
The first large flag hoisted at Bell’s Lookout Point (formerly known as Harold Jack’s Place) had been ripped apart by strong February winds, while a second looked too small and a third was also torn. In addition, lights placed at the bottom to illuminate the flag during the night as protocol requires were insufficient and the red beacon on top of the pole was reportedly not in keeping with aviation regulations either.
Nevertheless, eight months have passed since it was stated that all these issues needed to be resolved before a flag will be hoisted on this location again. The bare pole has been uselessly standing there all that time.
What makes things worse is that the area is used for a view stop by tour buses and taxis, who are constantly having to explain where the flag is. That’s the same question thousands of motorists passing the spot daily must be asking themselves at this juncture.
There is little more than a week left, but it would behove government to again have the St. Maarten flag flying high on November 11. Local hardware stores should be able to provide – even if temporary – some adequate lighting on short notice so people can again enjoy and be proud of the country’s main symbol on their “national” day.
